Jack Smith Faces Senate Panel on Trump Probes Amid Partisan Clash

Jack Smith is the sole witness before the Senate Judiciary Committee at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. The hearing is titled "Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters." Smith took over DOJ probes into 2020 election interference and Mar-a-Lago classified documents after Merrick Garland named him special counsel. Both indictments were dismissed after Trump's 2024 win under DOJ policy. He testified to the House Judiciary Committee in December and January 2026. Chuck Grassley describes Smith's work as "rampant abuse of authority and political targeting" and said Smith "must answer for what he did to hundreds of Republican groups and individuals." Documents from Grassley and Jim Jordan say the investigation obtained texts and messages involving 44 members of Congress. A House Judiciary report says phone records from more than a dozen Republican lawmakers were subpoenaed without call content. Jordan referred Smith to DOJ alleging false statements; Smith's lawyers say he answered truthfully. Democrats Peter Welch and Dick Durbin rejected the accusations. Smith's planned statement says he "will not be silenced by the continued threats of prosecution from the president or others." Trump posted that "Deranged Jack Smith should be brought to Justice, NOW!!!"